It has been three years since "Carnival is Forever" was unleashed into the world, and it is finally almost time for the Polish masters of Technical Death Metal DECAPITATED to unveil its successor, "Blood Mantra", with the release date set for the end of September.

"Blood Mantra" sees the progression of the band; having mastered the realms of technicality, this new album contains more melodic moments than DECAPITATED's previous work, which adds a completely new facet to their music. This is not at all to say that the band has gotten soft. In fact, there are some guitar parts that leave you wondering whether Vogg is even human, whilst sections of the drum work definitely give the impression that Mlody must be at least part cyborg. Each of the band members has mustered an exceptional contribution to the album, and DECAPITATED have once again outdone themselves, utterly obliterating all boundaries of Technical Death Metal.

With a total playtime just over 45 minutes, "Blood Mantra" has a nightmarish tinge to it, incorporating subtle soundscapes of disconcerting ritualistic horrors. Starting off with "Exiled in Flesh", the onslaught gradually creeps up on you before pulling you under completely. The artillery of drumbeats and bass lines, mind-numbing riffage, and savage vocals rips you apart, preparing you for the blitzkrieg that is still to come. From here on, things take a rapid twist, with the sound growing in intensity and furious pace. The tracks "The Blasphemous Psalm to the Dummy God Creation" and "Veins" introduce a heavier, chuggier, and more ballistic undercurrent that is guaranteed to break necks, all intertwined with more subtle infusions of abysmal revulsion that seep through to poison everything with insidious tentacles that grip your very soul.

The title track of the album shatters the walls of sanity, managing to meld catchy riffs, interesting tempo changes, and crushing brutality that will leave you reeling, all topped off with an absolutely mind-shredding guitar solo. One of my favourite tracks is "Nest", due to its intricate and unpredictable changes that lend the song a twisted and perverted hint of madness that is captivating. The fragmented and spasmodic riffage interwoven with an unsettling melody showcases this track's potential to become DECAPITATED's next anthem, on par with the legendary "Spheres of Madness". The remaining tracks see the album take a more melodic turn, with slower sections in the songs tempering the more break-neck parts. In "Blindness", this becomes an almost hypnotic undercurrent, lending the track an almost ritualistic feel. The final song, "Red Sun", is an atmospheric outro, giving the impression of a post-apocalyptic landscape that has been ravaged by annihilation, leaving the listener with a seething quietness after the total destruction wrought by the previous tracks.

Overall, this album sees DECAPITATED break free of any previous shackles, exploring a new territory whilst still maintaining their definitive sound. "Blood Mantra" is an immense and powerful album, definitely high up on my list of best releases of the year. I absolutely recommend checking this out!